Coupling-operating mechanism



J. KELSO. COUPLING OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, I920- Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J; KELSO. COUPLING OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1920- 1,372,233.

Patented Mar- 22, 1921-.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KELSO, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MGCONWAY &

TOBLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION PENN- SYLVANIA.

COUPLING-OPERATING MECHANISM.

able others skilled in the art to which it ape pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a coupler operating mechanism which is designed to enable the trainman readily to shift a laterally movable coupler into any position that may be required to enable it to couple with the mating coupler upon an adjacent car. The

invention is also designed to provide means for actuating the coupler locking mechanism to cause it to assume an unlocked position.

Generally stated, the principal features of the invention involves the combination with a coupler mounted upon a railway car so as to be laterally movable, of means for shitting the coupler laterally, said means involving a lever device comprising an operating handle adapted to move toward and from the longitudinal axis of the car, a rack movably mounted on the car and adapted to be actuated by said operating handle, a pawl adapted. to engage the rack in a plurality of operative positions and to move therewith, and a rod connected to the coupler and governing unlocking of the coupler lock, and operatively connected to the said handle through the rack and pawl. A further important feature of the invention consists in combining, with the laterally movable coupler and its locking mechanism, a pivoted lever dea ice provided with an operating handle, and a rod interposed between the lever device and the coupler locking mechanism, the lever device being adapted to 1'0- tate the rod and thereby move the coupler locking mechanism to unlocked position and being also adapted to be actuated so as to effect a lateral shifting of the rod and its connected coupler, thesaid rod being connected to the lever device in a manner permitting it to shift laterally with the coupler without effecting a corresponding shifting oi the operating handle when the car to which it is attached passes around a curve.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed September 2, 1920. .Serial No. 407,720.

There are minor features oi? the invention relating to special combinations of parts and particular details of construction, all as will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings illustrating the prei'erred form of the invention,--

Figure l is a front elevation oi? a laterally movable coupler and coupler operating i mechanism embodying my invention, the parts being in normal relation correspond ing to the central position or the coupler and a locked position of the coupler locking mechanism.

Fig- 2 is a detailside elevation of the coupier operating mechanism shown in. Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on, the line 3-43, Fig. 2. i Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation showing the preferred manner oi connecting the coupler operating mechanism to the coupler.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating the relation of the parts when the coupler operating mechanism is employed for shifting the coupler.

- In the drawings, 1 is a coupler provided with a knuckle and suitable locking mechanism for retaining the knuckle in coupled positioin The coupler, which has been chosen for purposes of illustration merely, is of. a well known type designed. to be mounted upon a railway car so as to be capable. 01'' extended lateral SWl] 1g move-- ments with respect thereto. The locking mechanisn'i of this term of coupler is raised to unlocked position through the instrumentality oil? a pivot-ed lock litter 9., the outer end whercoi is pivotally coimectedto a bar or link 3 which extends into the coupler head and is operatively connected to the coupler lock. The inner end of the lifter 2 is provideduwith trunnions i journaled in upwardly opening bearings formed in a bracket 5 which is rigidly secured to the coupler l and projects downwardly from the under side thereof. The lodk lifter 2 is provided at its inner end with a pocket 6 which receives the upwardly extending in nor ends of the rotatable rods 7 by which the respective lever devices atthc sides of the car are operatively connected with the coupler l. When either of the rods 7 is rotated in the proper direction, the lock litter 2 will be swung upwardly to cause the coupler lock to assume an unlocked position or,

movement causlng the rod '4 in case'the coupler is provided with knuckle opening mechanism, to cause the coupler knuckle to rotate to open position. hen either of the rods 7 is shifted laterally a corresponding lateral displacement of the coupler 1 takes place.

Only one of the mechanisms by which the rods 7 are respectively operated has been illustrated, since each of these operating mechanisms is of the same construction. 1t is to be understood, however that although it is preferred to employ two of these rod operating devices, respectively posltioned adjacent opposite sides of the car so that the trainman may unlock the coupler and shift it laterally from either side of the track, nevertheless, if desired, a single unit consistingof one rod 7 and the operating devices associated therewith may be employed. Each rod 7 is movably connected to a p1voted lever device provided with an operating handle 8 and a rack?) adapted to be actuated by said handle, the said rod for this purpose preferably being formed at its outer end with perforated arms 10 adapted to receive a portion of the lever device between them. A bolt 11, which passes through the curved slot 12 of the lever device and which is adapted to be received between adjacent teeth 13 of the rack, serves not only to retain the operating rod and lover device in assembled relation but also constitutes a pawl or tooth enabling the rod 7 to cooperate with the rack 9 in a plurality of different positions.

The lever device is pivotally mounted upon the car by means of pivot pin 14: which passes through suitable perforations in a bracket 15 that is bolted to the car body, the axis o1 the pin 14 being disposed so as to permit the operating handle or lever 8 and the rack?) movable thereby to move toward and from the longitudinal axis of the car upon which the coupler 1 is mounted. In order to permit the handle 8 to execute a i to rotate upon its axis for effecting an unlocking of the coupler, the lever 8 is pivotally attached by means of a pin 16 to a bracket member 17 which is itself pivotally suspended upon the pin 14:. The lower pivot pin 16 extends at right angles to the upper pivot pin 14, thus permitting the lever device to eifect an uncoupling rotation of the rod 7 associated therewith in any position of lateral displacement which the coupler 1 may assume.

The operating handle 8 and rack 9 of the lever device are preferably cast as a unitary member which is formed with a curved slot 12 provided upon its upper side with the teeth 13 of the rack. The center of curvature of the slot 12 and the series of rack teeth is the upper pivot pin 14. The lower wall of the slot 12 is smooth or free from projections so that the pawl 01' pin 11 by which the rod 7 is connected to the lever device may slide back and forth in the slot without effecting a corresponding shifting of the operating handle 8 in response to lateral swinging movements of the coupler 1 when the car is passing around a curve, the slot 12 being extended or elongated outwardly, as at 18, beyond the end of the rack 9 so as to permit lateral movement of the rod 7 when the coupler 1 moves in that direction beyond its central position. The teeth 13 of the rack are preferably undercut to prevent all possibility of the bolt or pawl ll accidentally slipping out of operative relation with the teeth when the lever device is operated in causing a lateral shifting of the rod 7 and the coupler 1. I

The mode of slidably connecting the rod 7 with its lever device results in desirablv reducing and substantially eliminating the lateral movement of the handle 8 when the coupler swings in passing around curves. whereas ordinarily the handle or lever for actuating an uncoupling rod moves laterally the same distance as does the coupler.

The pawl 11 normally rests upon the lower wall of the slot 12 in slidable engagement with the operatinghandle. To eildctnn unlocking of the coupler in any position it may occupy it is merely necessary for the trainman to grasp the handle 8 and pull its lower end toward the outer end of the car. This causes the lever mechanism to turn upon the plvot pin 16 and rotate the attached rod T upon its axis. the rotation of the rod the lock lifter 2 is caused to swing upwardly and force the coupler locking incohanism to unlocked position. To niove the coupler 1 laterally the trainman raises the outer end of the rod T until its pawl b enters one of the apertures between adjacent teeth of the rack 9, thereafter pushing or pulling the operating handle as the case may rcquire to cause it to rotate about the pivot pin 14: and effect the desired lateral shifting of the rod 7 and the coupler. \Vhcn the coupler has been displaced laterally to the desired extent the operator releases the handle 8, moving it slightly if necessary. so as to permit the pawl 11 to disengageby gravity from the teeth of the rack 9. The operating handle 8 thereupon reassunies its normal position.

I claim 1. In mechanism of the character indicatcd, the combination with a coupler mounted upon a railway car so as to be capable of lateral movement with respect thereto, of means for shifting said coupler late ally, said means involving a rack adapt ed to move toward and from the longitudinal axis of the ca a pawl adapted to engage said rack in a plurality of operative positions and to move therewith, and means for actuating said rack.

2. In mechanismof the character indicated, the combination with a coupler mounted upon a railway car so as to be capable of lateral movement with respect thereto, 0:? means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means including a rack movably mounted on said car, a pawl adapted to engage said rack in a plurality of operative positions and to move therewith, an operating lever, and a rod connected to said coupler and operatively connected to said lever through said rack and pawl.

3.-In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable car coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means including a lever device involving a rotatable rack and a handle for actuating said rack, said handle being adapted to move toward and from the longitudinal axis of the car upon which said coupler is mounted.

In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable car coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means including a pivoted lever provided with a segment rack, and a rod interposed between said lever and coupler, said rod being adapted to cooperate with said rack in a plurality of positions.

5. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally mov able coupler, oi? means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever device including a movable segment rack, and means for ope 'atively connecting said raclr and coupler.

6. In mechanism of the cha 'acter indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a pivoted lever having a curved slot provided upon. its upper side with a plurality of teeth, a rod operatively connected to said coupler, and means carried by said rod and slidable in said slot for operatively con necting said rod with said teeth.

T. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever device adapted to have pivotal movement about independent axes and including a movable rack and means operatively c011- necting said rack and coupler.

8. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a rack, means for moving said rack, and a rod adapted to transmit movement from said rack to said coupler, said rod being movable independently of said means for moving the rack.

9. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever device, and a rod interposed between said lever device and coupler, said rod being supported at one end by said lever device so as to be capable of pivotal and sliding movements with respect thereto.

10. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally mov' able coupler and its locking means, of a lever device, and a slidable and rotatable rod operatively interposed between said lever device and the locking means of said coupler, said lever device being provided with a rack which is movable laterally to effect a lateral movement of said coupler through the intermediacy of said rod, and said rod being rotatable by said lever device to cause the locking means of said coupler to assume an unlocked position.

11. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of means for shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever device, and a rod interposed between said lever device and said coupler, and said lever device and rod having coasting rack and pawl devices adapted to engage each other in a plurality of operative positions.

12. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a-laterally movable coupler and its locking means, of a pivoted lever device provided with an operating handle, and a rod interposed between said lever device and the locking means of the coupler, said rod being adapted to be rotated by said lever device to actuate the coupler locking means and being adapted to be shifted laterally by said lever device to etl'ect a lateral shifting of said coupler and also being adapted to be shifted laterally by said coupler without elii'ecting a corresponding shifting oi said operating handle.

.13. In mechanism of the character indi' cated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler and its locking means, of a lever device, means for pivotally connecting said lever device to a car, and a rod interposed between said coupler and lever device. said rod being movable by said lever device to cause said coupler locking means to assume an unlocked position and being laterally movable by said lever device to shift said coupler laterally, and said lever device having an operating handle and including a plurality of pivotally connected members one of which isprovided with a series of downwardly extending teeth constitut-ing means for communicating lateral movement oi said operating handle to said rod.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

JOSEPH KELSO. 

